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That yearly reminder…
Every year this pops up on my memories. It’s the same every year and today was no different. It’s usually a busy day with us getting things ready for my daughter’s birthday, and I get a notification of a “on this day” memory. It hits me like a ton of bricks and stops me dead in my tracks. Today I was in the car with my wife, talking and laughing, and I get the notification. I look and see that picture. I say, “Oh no…Man, every year…”. I show her the picture and it takes everything in me to not start crying. But why? It’s been eleven years. Why does…
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Top 5 Tips For NICU Dads
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What about dads? Life after the NICU
A few months back I was asked by Bryana Salazar to be a part of a study she was doing. I jumped at the chance when I found out the study was exploring the needs of NICU fathers and their experiences after discharge. 32 NICU fathers participated in this study to help us learn more about the NICU experience and the transition home. Please take a look at her study here: https://spark.adobe.com/page/wR523tLe542qn/#theme-5 Here is what she found. Theme 1: Dads and Healthcare Providers Interacting with healthcare providers while your child is in the NICU and beyond can be intimidating. Theme 2: Adjusting Expectations For some fathers, the transition is difficult…
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NICU Birthday
A NICU stay is definitely a life changing experience. The hell we are put through and the gratefulness of how blessed we are, we carry them forever.
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When time stands still…
After making the drive from hell where you are begging God to spare your wife and your baby, I came running in asking where my wife has been taken. I run to labor and delivery and open the door to a room and couldn't believe what I was seeing.
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Facing my NICU reality
I think from the very first day of going into the NICU I lived in a state of denial. Even after processing and accepting some of the reality of where we were, I was still in denial of what my expectations should have been for everything.
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What about NICU Grandparents?
I never really gave it much thought, and it makes me feel horrible to say, but I never really took into consideration what our parents went through when we were in the NICU.
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Kangaroo Care, get in there Dads!
As National Kangaroo Care Week has come to an end, I wanted to share my experiences with kangaroo care and some advice for NICU dads. Kangaroo care is incredible! I remember when our nurses explained to us that when our baby was removed from the heated isolette and placed on my wife’s chest, skin to skin contact was going to regulate our baby’s body temperature, and it did! Our baby was hooked up to monitors and was having her temperature checked constantly, and here when she had that skin to skin contact, everything was perfect. All of her levels were stable and her temperature was just right. It was unbelievable.…
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What You Don’t See After the NICU
This video is personal and raw. It’s about the part of the NICU journey that rarely gets talked about—what happens to NICU dads after the hospital stay is over. After our NICU journey, I fell into one of the darkest seasons of my life. My physical health declined. My mental health crumbled. I didn’t recognize myself anymore—and honestly, I didn’t know how to ask for help. As NICU dads, we’re often expected to be the rock—to stay strong for everyone else. But the truth is, I was silently breaking. And I know I’m not alone. This is why we must talk about it. The NICU doesn’t just affect babies. It…
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A NICU Dad’s Journey: Strength in Silence
POV: You’re a NICU dad. Sleepless nights. Silent strength. Smiles that hide the fear. Prayers whispered in the hallway. The journey is real—but you’re not alone.Tag a NICU dad. Share for the ones who stay strong in the shadows.#NICUDad #BuiltForThis #PrematurityAwareness #FathersMatter #NICUWarrior #DadsOfTikTok #SilentStrength #TheNICUDad #mentalhealth
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Happy Homecoming Day!
Yesterday was our NICU homecoming day. It is a special day in our house that we always talk about celebrating more. This year was a little different. This year I became more aware of how long our NICU stay really was. Normally we just talk about how we were in the NICU for 67 days. This time I was able to see all that we have done since our daughter’s birthday. We have lived so much life since her birthday in June. We have had birthdays, concerts, trips, parties, started school, and so much more. It has been a busy two months. I never think of our NICU stay as…
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How to Survive the First 72 Hours of NICU…as a NICU Dad
A while back I was asked to host a NICU Dads Group at our local Children’s Hospital’s NICU. I thought it was a great idea and immediately jumped online to start researching some topics or just get some information that I could share with some fellow NICU Dads. I looked and looked, and found nothing. Well, maybe nothing is a slight exaggeration. All I found was an article here and there in sites that were for NICU moms. There was nothing out there for NICU Dads. Then I came across Rad White and The NICU Beard Club. Rad had also written a book for NICU Dads, Enter The NICU. I was…
